About Me

I’m not exactly a born-organizer just ask my mother. When I was a teen, my room was always a disaster zone and for many of my adult years I preferred folks didn’t arrive at my door unannounced. But I’ve personally discovered that organization is a skill which can be learned and I can tell you that the rewards of bringing balance and order into your home, head and heart are well worth the effort.

I am a natural born teacher, coach, and leader. I have a knack for sharing my passions with others in a way that gets them enthused and involved. At the present time, I’m passionate about the benefits of an organized home and life. In this complex world we live in, finding ways to simplify our lives is not easy. But it is possible and I’d love to show you how.

Before founding Simple Effects, I worked in the social work field for over 15 years in Ontario, Canada. My organizational skills served me well as the Executive Director of two non-profit organizations. As an Adoption Practitioner conducting home studies I honed my assessment skills. It doesn’t take me long to figure out what the root of a problem is. I worked with many children with special needs. Children are drawn to me and I truly love kids. These roles have also made me very familiar with issues of loss and grief and the impact of major lifestyle changes. This, along with my personal life experiences, has made me a particularly compassionate and empathetic coach for those who are struggling through transitional stages of life. If you were to ask those who’ve worked with me what I’m like, they’d most often describe me as non-judgemental, confident, wise, empathetic and caring. It also helps that I have a sense of humor. My nephew and nieces say I’m the world’s best aunt.

I have a Bachelor of Arts from Vermont College (Norwich University) majoring in writing and the arts. I earned this while working full-time so I know the challenges of juggling school and a career. I enjoy writing in my spare time. I have had 3 of my books published and my articles, poems and short stories have appeared in a variety of magazines. Writing my monthly newsletter has been lots of fun for me and I’m already planning a book on the simple effects of an organized life.

I have done a lot of public speaking over the past 15 years on a wide variety of topics. I have spoken in churches, community and women’s groups, schools, seminars, conferences and retreats. Folks have described me as a gifted communicator.

I moved to Boston in 2005 and live in a less than 800 square foot apartment in an old brownstone with my husband, Jerry, and our dog, Duke. I’ve had to personally experience the pain of letting go of a lot of things. We both work out of our home so I’ve got a true understanding of the challenges of living and working in a small space. Clients are always saying, “your house must be SO organized.” It is organized, but as you may know, organization is more of journey than a destination. I’m always looking at ways our home can best support our current lifestyle.

Probably the most important thing I could tell you about myself is that I’m a follower of Jesus. In all the difficulties in my life (and believe me, there’ve been some tough times), He is the one I turn to for comfort, guidance and hope. My goal in life is to be obedient to what He calls me to do and to glorify Him by doing it well. Simple Effects is what He’s called me to do for now and that makes it the best job in the world for me.

Joan is a current member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. NAPO provides continuing education, personal & professional support and networking opportunities for professional organizers worldwide. She is also a member of the New England Chapter and a Member of Faithful Organizers.